Hajek Receives Arthur Holly Compton Award

Hajek was selected to receive this prestigious national teaching award because of his inspirational leadership that creates enthusiasm among students about nuclear science and engineering. He promotes diversity throughout his teaching and forges industrial links for faculty and students.

At Ohio State, Hajek regularly attracts over 100 students each year to his Introduction to Nuclear Science and Engineering course and his Power Plant Operations course, the only one in the country that teaches plant systems and provides actual NPP simulator operations experience for students.  In his courses, he emphasizes professionalism and the importance of understanding and helping with the public's perception and involvement in all technical considerations as well as nuclear issues.

Hajek also is a Technical Administrative Law Judge on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP), an elite independent panel of lawyers and industry experts that has the final review and decision authority for issuing NRC licenses.  Hajek brings nuclear power plant operating experience to the panel and is one of only three members with Boiling Water Reactor experience.  The ASLBP is currently preparing for the review of an expected 30 or more applications for new nuclear power plants in the US, at least nine of which have already been submitted.

The Compton Award recognizes and encourages outstanding and sustained contributions to education in nuclear science and engineering.  The award is funded through an endowment by the wife of Edward Malinckrodt, Jr. and by George E. Malinckrodt, and is administered by the ANS Education and Training Division. The award includes monetary elements to be presented to both the recipient and the recipient's academic institution. Hajek will receive the award on June 10 at the ANS National Meeting in Los Angeles, California.